Workers' Rights Board

Statement

The Workers’ Rights Board is a public forum where workers can bring complaints against employers for violating their human and legal rights in the workplace. The Board is drawn from a broad spectrum of community leaders and can intervene with employers and the public to help resolve situations that threaten workers’ rights. The Board believes that it is especially important to support the efforts of low wage workers, who tend to be women, immigrants, young workers, and workers of color, to achieve justice in the workplace. Safe, living wage jobs, where workers are not discriminated against for speaking up for their rights, are the backbone of any healthy community. Nationally there are more than 40 Jobs with Justice chapters and 20 Workers’ Rights Boards.

Purpose

The North Bay Workers’ Rights Board is convened to bring to light and respond to injustices in the workplace. The Board also fights for community labor standards that respect the dignity of all workers. In recent years workers’ rights have been eroded. Workers are often intimidated or fired for speaking out or for union organizing. All too often the community does not know these stories. It is time for workers voices to be heard by our community.

Goals

Hold public hearings or press conferences to expose workplace injustices and the violation of workers' rights

Investigate incidents where employers are accused of violating workers rights or unfairly resisting efforts of workers to have a voice in their workplace.

Establish community standards about fairness in the workplace that will serve as a moral benchmark to which employers can be held accountable.

Support and strengthen workers’ democratic rights through community education.